(Closed) Could this jeopardize a potential job?

I am currently volunteering with a mental health agency while looking for a new job (I quit my last one). This MHA was recently contacted by a talk show that will be starting up in the fall, and they/the director of my volunteer agency want me to appear on a taping of the show and provide advice/very basic information about therapy and do a basic assessment of whatever issues are being faced by that day’s guests. One the one hand, I think it would be kind of cool. One the other hand, I’m afraid that it could in some way hurt me in finding a new job–I would imagine when they do a background check, it would come up–but I don’t know if it would be a bad thing?? I currently have a 2nd interview lined up for a position I really want at a different agency, and I don’t want to do this show if it could harm the possibility of me getting that job. Am I being silly? Is there any chance that appearing on this show could hurt my job search?

I’m not sure why you being on a talk show would be on a background check-like legal one. If anything , I would assume this one time episode deal would be a great testament of your knowledge and professionalism!

I don’t see how it could be a bad thing, unless it was a Jerry Springer type thing. I think it would actually help you! It shows you as an ‘expert’ in your field, and that you are a good communicator. I say go for it. 🙂

@Beingewe: Haha no no I don’t think so…it’s done by the producers of Montel and Oprah, I think, so it’ll be a lil bit more classy than Jerry Springer 🙂

Thanks ladies, you’ve all helped put my mind at ease about it. I guess I was just thinking that this other agency might be put off if they saw that I had made a public appearance…? I dunno, lol. I guess it doesn’t make sense! Now I just need to decide if I can get over my stage fright/fear of public speaking to do it 🙂

Yes I think whether this can help you depends on the integrity of the show.

And I would imagine it’s difficult to access someone’s mental health based on a few minutes of seeing them in person, or snippets of them on tape. If you’re in this situation I would just steer clear of diagnosing someone you don’t know or accessing their particular situation (because it could make you look bad if you are not right), and instead use general language when asked a question. For example:

Q. In your professional opinion, could this person have mental health issues?

A. “Studies have found that patients with alcoholism– are often linked to mental health issues.” Instead of, this person may have mental health issues because that is prevalent among alcoholics.

@misssweet: Yes of course, I would’t be diagnosing them or labeling them with anything. It’s going to be pretty generic I think–“You would benefit from seeking substance abuse counseling and family counseling”, “I can see that there’s a lot of anger in you when you talk about this issue” etc. But that’s one of the things that’s scary, is that I need to think on my feet soemwhat, although I’d have access to some blurbs beforehand and can come up with basic points.

I agree with the others–doing the show isn’t necessarily harmful to your potential job, but definitely rehearse ahead of time some generalizations you can use. And maybe, to cover all of your bases, you can find about about liability issues. Will the person/guest you are discussing sign a waiver of some sort? Will you sign an agreement that you are NOT diagnosing, recommending specific treatment, or otherwise acting in a capacity as a professional in a client relationship with the guest. I’m the daughter of a lawyer, so I always think about these things. 🙂

I think it would be helpful to know more about the agency with which you’re interviewing. A place that’s big on advocacy and education and might see the interview as a positive, whereas an organization that’s very heavy into serious direct services might be neutral or nonplussed.

@teaadntoast: It’s an agency that works directly with children in foster care and their foster parents. I would be coming in in crisis situations and doing short term crisis intervention work in order to try and avoid the children being removed and placed elsewhere.

@teaadntoast: That’s kind of how I feel…granted, the show would’nt air until Sept, so presumably I would be hired before then. But I would feel obligated to tell them, and I don’t want to give them any reason not to hire me, you know?